Chemical synthesis and characterization of self-doped N-propanesulfonic acid polyaniline derivatives

In chemical oxidative homopolymerization of aniline-N-propanesulfonic acid, ammonium persulfate has been used as an oxidant to obtain water-soluble and self-acid-doped polyanilines. Copolymerization of aniline-N-propanesulfonic acid with aniline, using three feed molar ratios of comonomers has been studied, as well. The polymers and copolymers had moderate molecular weights and were soluble in water and polar solvents. They have been obtained in self-acid-doped form, as has been evidenced by UV-Vis spectroscopy, as green-colored materials, and can be de-doped with alkaline solutions. The propanesulfonic groups had not cleaved during the oxidative polymerization and the atomic ratio between nitrogen and sulfur atoms (N/S) was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy which was consistent with the chemical structure. The chemical structures and morphologies of the homo- and copolymers have been studied by FTIR, (HNMR)-H-1, UV-Vis, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the homo- and copolymers have showed a high degree of crystallinity which can be explained by the ionic interaction between propanesulfonate anions and the amine nitrogen atoms of the main chain, resulting in the layering structure of the polyaniline chains. Electrical conductivity of the homopolymer determined at room temperature on pressed pellet was 0.0038 S/cm, while the copolymers show higher conductivities compared with homopolymer.